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First openly gay council member takes office in Salt Lake City

Filed: Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Salt Lake has its first openly gay city council member, reports KTVX-TV.

On Monday afternoon, Stan Penfold (pictured) took the oath of office, in both a historic and emotional day.

Penfold told ABC 4: "I was a little surprised I got kind of choked up. I wasn't planning on that."

But the tears were mixed with laughter.

In his first official speech, Penfold made light of the fact people were making such a big deal of his sexual orientation.

"Salt Lake City is an amazingly diverse place. Who knew? Well, I guess I did. But I didn't think anyone else knew."

Under the Utah State Constitution that Penfold swore to uphold Monday, he cannot marry someone of the same sex.

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Tags: Politics, Salt Lake City, Utah

Filed under: Utah

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